Expressions and relationship between MTA1 and MMP-2 in hepetocellular carcinoma tissues

OBJECTIVE:To study the expressions and significance of the metastasis associated gene 1 (MTA1) and matrix metalloproteinase 2(MMP-2) in HCC (hepatocellular carcinoma) tissues,and explore their correlation with angiogenesis of HCC. METHODS:Immunohistochemisty was employed to determine the expressions of MTA1 and MMP-2 in 60 HCC tissues and their adjacent liver tissues. RESULTS:Positive rates of MTA1 and MMP-2 in the HCC tissues were higher than those in the adjacent liver tissues (65.00% and 60.00% vs 35.00% and 26.67%,P0.05). The expression of MTA1 in the HCC tissues was significantly correlated with the clinical stage,the recurrence of tumor,the presence of extrahepatic metastasis and the portal vein tumor thrombus. The expression of MMP-2 in the HCC tissues was significantly correlated with the clinical stage,the portal vein tumor thrombus,the presence of extrahepatic metastasis and the recurrence of tumor. Expression of MTA1 was positively correlated with that of MMP-2. CONCLUSION:The high expression of MTA1 and MMP-2 in HCC tissues are correlate with the growth and invation and metastasis of HCC,and it suggest that MTA1 and MMP-2 may play important roles in the initiation and progression and the recurrence of HCC.